Published: Monday, December 17, 2012 at 11:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 17, 2012 at 11:42 a.m.

A local distillery is hoping to ride swelling demand for craft spirits with an intoxicating mixture of local products.

Donner-Peltier Distillers opened its doors on St. Patrick Highway this month. It’s the collective effort of Thibodaux residents Tom Donner, his wife Elizabeth, Henry Peltier and his wife Elizabeth.

The outfit held its grand opening last week and is now scrambling to meet burgeoning local demand and with one eye on spreading to other states.

Close observers say the industry for craft spirits is still in its infancy but provides a window for the Thibodaux business with nationwide demand trending upward.

Less than 10 years ago, there were as few as 65 craft distillers licensed in the U.S. Today, there are more than 250, with demand for craft spirits steadily trending upward, according to Pennfield Jensen, vice president of operations for the American Distilling Institute.

“A lot of people are into wines, and California has great wineries where you can buy wine there you can’t get here,” Henry Peltier said. “The spirit industry is moving that direction where you don’t have to just go out and buy Bacardi; you have other options.”

Including Donner-Peltier, there are four such outfits in Louisiana with two in New Orleans and one in Lacassine, outside Lake Charles.

Jensen said the popularity of craft spirits is following the path craft breweries took to their current popularity.

“The volume (of spirits sold) is still with the big companies, but the trend is really toward craft products,” Jensen said. “People want something they can identify with and make part of their lifestyle choices.”

Peltier said his distillery’s hook is the uniqueness of the liquor made from local products.

The distillery is currently selling three spirits.

Oryza, the latin word for rice, is the distillery’s vodka offering. Peltier said the distillery will be one of few to make vodka from long-grain rice. which it gets from Crowley. It’s an 80-proof spirit and so far is the most widely circulated product the distillery has produced.

The distillery more recently began distributing two different Rougaroux Rums, named for the supernatural creature of Cajun folklore.

The Sugarshine rum is a clear 101-proof spirit. The Full Moon Dark is an aged 80-proof rum. They are both produced using molasses from the Lafourche Sugar Mill near Thibodaux.

A fifth of each sells for about $28.

Jensen said it is crucial for craft distillers looking to grow their business to establish an identity through the quality of the liquor and the uniqueness of the process.

“Everybody is into Cajun culture right now,” said Beth Donner, another co-owner. “It adds some character to the product.”

The distillery has its rum and vodka in numerous groceries, bars and restaurants. Its products have hit the New Orleans market and are also being sold in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

“The key factor is a regional embrace of the authenticity and the quality of the product. You really start close to home, you start with the restaurants, with the liquor stores nearby,” Jensen said. “You then have to build demand in specific spots where you know the brand is going to be well-received.”

Beth Donner said the distillery is seeking licenses to sell outside Louisiana but is already scrambling to meet southern Louisiana’s demand.

“I guess any business would tell you to not being able to make your product fast enough is a good sign, but we don’t want to lose customers because they can’t find it,” said Tom Donner, another co-owner.

The distillery has to split time making rum and vodka and will spread into north Louisiana once it can catch up with demand, Donner said.

“It is very hard to go from zero to 90,” Jensen said. “In this market, people really want that authenticity. They want to know who the seller is, and they want to see the distillery.”

Knowing this, Peltier said the owners eagerly watched a bill in the state Legislature this summer that ultimately allowed their liquor to be sold where it is made.

Now the distillery not only sells related merchandise, but has a tasting bar and sells the spirit in-house.

The bar and distillery is open Monday through Wednesady from noon to 6:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

“Part of this business is to try to have people who are fans,” Tom Donner said. “The more you can interact directly with people, the more likely they are to buy the product for ever.”

<p>A local distillery is hoping to ride swelling demand for craft spirits with an intoxicating mixture of local products.</p><p>Donner-Peltier Distillers opened its doors on St. Patrick Highway this month. It's the collective effort of Thibodaux residents Tom Donner, his wife Elizabeth, Henry Peltier and his wife Elizabeth.</p><p>The outfit held its grand opening last week and is now scrambling to meet burgeoning local demand and with one eye on spreading to other states.</p><p>Close observers say the industry for craft spirits is still in its infancy but provides a window for the Thibodaux business with nationwide demand trending upward.</p><p>Less than 10 years ago, there were as few as 65 craft distillers licensed in the U.S. Today, there are more than 250, with demand for craft spirits steadily trending upward, according to Pennfield Jensen, vice president of operations for the American Distilling Institute.</p><p>“A lot of people are into wines, and California has great wineries where you can buy wine there you can't get here,” Henry Peltier said. “The spirit industry is moving that direction where you don't have to just go out and buy Bacardi; you have other options.”</p><p>Including Donner-Peltier, there are four such outfits in Louisiana with two in New Orleans and one in Lacassine, outside Lake Charles.</p><p>Jensen said the popularity of craft spirits is following the path craft breweries took to their current popularity.</p><p>“The volume (of spirits sold) is still with the big companies, but the trend is really toward craft products,” Jensen said. “People want something they can identify with and make part of their lifestyle choices.”</p><p>Peltier said his distillery's hook is the uniqueness of the liquor made from local products.</p><p>The distillery is currently selling three spirits.</p><p>Oryza, the latin word for rice, is the distillery's vodka offering. Peltier said the distillery will be one of few to make vodka from long-grain rice. which it gets from Crowley. It's an 80-proof spirit and so far is the most widely circulated product the distillery has produced.</p><p>The distillery more recently began distributing two different Rougaroux Rums, named for the supernatural creature of Cajun folklore.</p><p>The Sugarshine rum is a clear 101-proof spirit. The Full Moon Dark is an aged 80-proof rum. They are both produced using molasses from the Lafourche Sugar Mill near Thibodaux.</p><p>A fifth of each sells for about $28.</p><p>Jensen said it is crucial for craft distillers looking to grow their business to establish an identity through the quality of the liquor and the uniqueness of the process.</p><p>“Everybody is into Cajun culture right now,” said Beth Donner, another co-owner. “It adds some character to the product.”</p><p>Donner-Peltier uses Houma's Buquet Distributing locally and Metairie-based Southern Eagle Distributors for statewide distribution.</p><p>The distillery has its rum and vodka in numerous groceries, bars and restaurants. Its products have hit the New Orleans market and are also being sold in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.</p><p>“The key factor is a regional embrace of the authenticity and the quality of the product. You really start close to home, you start with the restaurants, with the liquor stores nearby,” Jensen said. “You then have to build demand in specific spots where you know the brand is going to be well-received.”</p><p>Beth Donner said the distillery is seeking licenses to sell outside Louisiana but is already scrambling to meet southern Louisiana's demand.</p><p>“I guess any business would tell you to not being able to make your product fast enough is a good sign, but we don't want to lose customers because they can't find it,” said Tom Donner, another co-owner.</p><p>The distillery has to split time making rum and vodka and will spread into north Louisiana once it can catch up with demand, Donner said.</p><p>“It is very hard to go from zero to 90,” Jensen said. “In this market, people really want that authenticity. They want to know who the seller is, and they want to see the distillery.”</p><p>Knowing this, Peltier said the owners eagerly watched a bill in the state Legislature this summer that ultimately allowed their liquor to be sold where it is made.</p><p>Now the distillery not only sells related merchandise, but has a tasting bar and sells the spirit in-house.</p><p>The bar and distillery is open Monday through Wednesady from noon to 6:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. </p><p>“Part of this business is to try to have people who are fans,” Tom Donner said. “The more you can interact directly with people, the more likely they are to buy the product for ever.”</p>